West Ham yesterday stepped up their desperate attempts to attract fans to their third round FA Cup tie against Arsenal.

As Sportsmail revealed, the club sent emails to supporters begging them to attend what should be a glamour tie.

This was followed up by a fresh plea on their official website yesterday that said: 'The match promises to be a keenly contested affair with both clubs eagers to keep the dream of getting to Wembley alive. The likes of Radoslav Kovac are excited by the prospect.' Kovac is then quoted as being excited with the chance to play at Wembley.

Former Hammers skipper Alvin Martin also urged fans to show support. He told talkSPORT: 'This could be as crucial a game in turning West Ham's season round as the famous match when Mark Robins saved Sir Alex Ferguson's job at Nottingham Forest. A win could rekindle the season. There are tickets available, so please get yourself down there.'

West Ham supporters yesterday left messages on the Daily Mail website venting their anger at the club as they face a bleak winter and a relegation battle. They are only out of the bottom three on goal difference.

The club are optimistic they will have a decent turn-out for tomorrow's 4.15pm kick-off, which is being screened live on ITV, but had sold fewer than 30,000 tickets, 5,200 of which were taken up by Arsenal.

Upton Park's capacity is 35,647 and large sections of the top tier of the East and West Stands remained unsold.

West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola said: 'We want to honour it, so we're going to play and try to win the game. We're playing home against Arsenal and we will have a go. I know that maybe it's not a priority but we will be there and up for it.

'I think it's a good opportunity, we'll have the possibility to play some players and make some things that I want to make.'

Meanwhile Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger took a swipe at clubs who fail to balance their budgets, accusing them of 'half-cheating'.

The Hammers are struggling with the implications of living beyond their means under the leadership of Icelanders Eggert Magnusson and Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, but they are not alone, with Portsmouth and Hull City in financial trouble.

Glamour tie: Arsenal will bring plenty of big-name players, but the Hammers are still struggling to sell tickets

'Professional football is about winning and balancing the budget,' said Wenger. 'That is the basic rule and one I have fought for. All the rest is half-cheating. For every club it has to be the same.'

Wenger saw how such problems hurt supporters on Wednesday. His Arsenal team tore Portsmouth apart as Pompey fans vented their anger on the board.

'It is sad because basically, the clubs belong to the fans,' said Wenger. 'That's all I feel my responsibility is, to keep the club in good financial condition because you want people to keep the club alive.'

Carlo Ancelotti had a dig at Wenger this week, calling him 'a very good magician' because the Arsenal boss had predicted Chelsea's form dip.

But for Wenger, London football's top illusionists are those at Stamford Bridge who made their debt disappear this week by turning a £340million loan from Roman Abramovich into equity.